Interviewing is a lot like the Cinderella story. You get all dressed up, go to the big event, dance your finest, and hope the shoe fits at the end. You want to make a regal impression on your interviewers, but instead of leaving a tiny glass slipper, you want to leave a thank you note, perfectly crafted and unique to you. How can you write a note worthy of a royal chase?

1. Choose mail or email. Before you decide what to say, decide where you’ll say it. A professionally written email (no smilies!) is the quickest way to follow up while the interview is still fresh; however, it runs the risk of getting lost in an already busy inbox, or even arriving too early in the interview process. On the flip side, a handwritten thank you card is more formal and more likely to stand out in this digital age, but may not be as timely. Different managers and cultures favor different styles, so do your best to gauge which format will be best received. A longstanding law firm may prefer a card, whereas an engineering startup may prefer an email. I would not recommend sending an email and a card. After all, who should be doing the chasing?
2. Thank each person who interviewed you. Yup, each person on that panel gets their own note, ideally personalized for them. (Taking notes during the interview will help you differentiate who’s who, and will also help you remember who said what.) As you think about each person on your panel, ask yourself how you might have connected or what you uncovered in common, remember the source of any jokes or laughter, and try to gauge who was relaxed and friendly versus who was all business. These will give you a starting point for tone and content for each letter: For instance, Dear Gloria versus Dear Ms. Smith.
3. Decide what you’ll say. You already fleshed out the best parts of your candidacy, so no need to sound like a commercial now! This is about thanking the interviewers for their time, and reminding them how excited you are about this opportunity. After you’ve chosen a salutation based on Number 2 above, it’s time to write two or three sentences in that same tone:
   • Thank the interviewer for meeting. You can try “Thank you so much for meeting with me today” or “Thank you for making my interview so pleasant/lively/fun.”
   • Mention something that stood out to you. This can be one of those jokes/laughter moments, something you had in common, something interesting said about the organization… It’s your call: “I especially enjoyed your likening the company’s culture to an indie radio station,” “It’s always exciting to meet a fellow Colts fan,” or “I’m glad to have learned more about the company.”
   • Reinforce your interest. …but don’t lay it on too thick. Try, “I’m even more excited to join the company’s team, and I hope to see you again as a colleague,” or “I am even more interested in working for the company, and I look forward to hearing from you.”

Put them together and what have you got? Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo! OK, maybe you won’t turn a pumpkin into a carriage, but you will have a polite and enthusiastic thank you note that hits all the right points. When done well, your note will harken the unique impression you made at the interview—hopefully enough to receive a royal summons, especially if you know the slipper fits!